Mixing-machine.



'I'. J. STUR'IEVANT. MIXlNG MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED APLzo, 1914.

Patented Dec. 29, V1914n 1HE NnRRls PETERS C0..PHOTo-L1THO.. WASHING rGN. D C.

`UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS JOSEPH STURTEVANT, OF WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR T STURTEVANT MILL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MIXING-MACHINE.

Liaaeeo.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee. 29, i914.

Application led April 2G. 1914. Serial No. 833,148.

To cli whom it may conc-ern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. STURTE- v MNT, a citizen of the United States, resida the following lis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain improvements 1n the so-called Hunso mixer or `mixing machine covered by U. S. Patent No. 985,299, dated Feb. 28, 1911, and has for its object to` provide convenient means for discharging the mixed material, as well as to improve the efficiency of the machine, and to avoid objectionable friction which results from the construction hereinbefore in use, and in which some of the material leaks out between the rotating driun and the surrounding stationary housing, so that it scrapes around between the drum and housing, causing more or less friction.

in carrying the present invention into eifect the rotating drum is provided with a series of openings closed by swinging doors which, when the means for holding them closed is released, will open by gravity for the discharge of the material as the openings and doors approach the lower side of the drum in its rotation, and will also be closed by gravity as the openings and their doors move upward, such gravity-closing being preferably assisted by means which will force the doors tightly to closed positions if their weight is not suiiicient to effect this result.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a sectional view of a mixer embodying the present invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views showing one of the swinging doors and related parts illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 19 denotes a rotatable drum or cylinder which will be suitably mounted and driven, as will be understood from Patent No. 985,299 above re- JEerred to.

Surrounding the central portion of the rotatable drum or cylinder 19 is a casing 24 properly supported on a frame or base 12 and open at its bottom for the discharge of the mixed material. The said rotating drum or Cylinder is provided at its middle portion, within the casing 24, with openings 25 normally closed by swinging doors 26.

The rotating drum or cylinder 19 is provided internally at its opposite end parts withr a series of inclined wings 44 iiXed to the lifting iianges or buckets 45, these inclined blades 44 serving to force the material toward the central or middle part of the drum where the openings 25 are located, as in the machine of Patent No. 985,299 hereinbefore referred to, so that the matcrial within the drum may be readily discharged, when desired, through the openings at the middle portion of the drum.

The swinging doors 26 are locked in closed positions by means of spring-pressed hooked catches 46 engaging bars 4.7 on said doors, the said hooked catches 46 being yieldingly held in locked positions by means of plate springs 48 bearing against tail portions 49 on the said catches. Two catches for each door, one near each end of the drum 19, are preferably provided, as will be understood from Fig. 8. A single circular series of catches, one for each door, may, however, be employed, if desired.

4When it is desired to open the doors 26 for the discharge of material a roller or rollers 50, controlled by a manually operated lever 51, may be moved from the position shown in dotted lines to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1; and when in this releasing position the outer ends of the hooked catches 46 will engage said roller or rollers on the descending side of the rotating drum so as to release the catches and thus permit the swinging doors to open by gravity. When two hooked catches 46 are employed for each door 26 the two rollers for releasing said catches may be mounted on a fork 52 actuated by the lever 5l. As the swinging doors move upward with the ascending side of the rotating drum they will naturally close by gravity; but to insure that the doors will be tightly closed, should this not be done by gravity alone, a closing roller 53 carried by a springpressed lever 54 is preferably provided, said roller being in a position to engage ribs 55 on the backs of the swinging doors 26.

From the foregoing it will be understood that after the mixing operation has been completed and it is desired to discharge the mixed material, the attendant, by means of the lever 51, moves the releasing roller or rollersto the position shown infull lines in Fig. 1 so that the'outer ends of the spring# pressed hooked catches 46 Will engage the said roller cr rollers and will be unlatched, thus permitting the doors to be opened by gravity for the discharge of the material.

' The improved machine is more especially intended for use in mixing fertilizers, but may be used for other purposes, as Will be v understood.

to cause the said catches to be released when it is desired that the said doors should open.

2. A rotatable mixing drum provided with circumferential discharge openings, combined with swinging doors to close said openings,V said doors being adapted to be opened and closed by gravity, springpressed catches for holding said doors in closed position, manually adjustable means adapted to be moved into position to cause `the said catches to be released when it is desired that the said doors should open,

and means for forcing said doors to closedl position in assisting the gravity-closing action. y

3. A rotatable mixing drum provided With circumferential discharge openings, combined With swinging doors to close said openings, said doors being adapted to be opened and closed by gravity, spring-pressed catches for holding said doors in closed position, manually adj astable means adapted to be moved into position to cause the said catches copies of this patent may be obtained for tobe released when it is desired that the said doors should open, and a spring-pressed lever provided vvitli a roller to act on said with circumferential discharge openings,

combined With swinging doors on said drum to close said openings, said doors being adapted to be opened and closed by gravity, one or more series of spring-pressed catches for holding said doors in closed position, a roller or rollers movable into and out of the path of movement of the outer ends of said catches, Aand a manually controlled lever by which saidroller or rollers may be moved into a position to release one or more series of catches When it is desired that the said doors should open.

5. A rotatable mixing drum provided at or near its middle portion With circumferential discharge openings, combined With swinging doors on said drum to close said openings, said doors being adapted to be opened and closed by gravity, one or more series of spring-pressed catches for holding said doors in closed position, a roller or rollers movable into and out of the path of movement of the outer ends of said catches, and a manually controlled lever by which said roller or rollers may be moved into a position to release one or more series of catches When it is desired that the said doors should open. f

6. A. rotatable mixing drum provided with circumferential discharge openings, combined With swinging doors to close said openings, said doors'being adapted to be opened and closed by gravity, catches for holding said doors in closedv position, and manually adjustable means adapted to be moved into position to cause the said catches to be released When it is desired that the said doors should open.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

` THOMAS JOSEPH STURTEVANT.

Witnesses:

`L. H. STURTEVANT,

N. VELLis.

ve cents each, by addressingpthe "Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. G. A 

